September 19, 2017
Stop Handing Out Your SSN Like Candy
Social Security numbers (or SSNs) used to be tied just to your Social Security benefits. Now, that number is tied to just about everything used to identify you. In this age of identity theft, your Social Security number is one of the most valuable, if not THE most valuable, identifiers you ...
September 19, 2017
Get Moving… To Live!
The phrase: “If I’m lying, I’m dying” should be changed to: “If I’m sitting, I’m dying” even though it doesn’t rhyme. If you haven’t heard by now, sitting for long periods of time increases the chance that you’ll die early, regardless of your race, gender, age, body mass index (BMI), or even if ...
September 19, 2017
A Not-So-Quiet Little Problem
There are places where you expect things to be noisy, such as a rock concert, and places where you expect it to be quiet, like an office. And while nobody likes being “shushed,” there are few things more annoying than trying to work when someone else is talking in the background. The ‘80s music ...
September 19, 2017
Moments of Clarity: Being Transparent
Aristotle was right when he said, “Nature abhors a vacuum.” Companies and politicians like to say that they’re transparent, when in fact, they’re often the opposite. And, as in nature, in the absence of facts, people will often fill their minds with what is perceived. If you’re working at a ...
September 12, 2017
Compliance Recap | August 2017
August was a quiet month in the employee benefits world. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) released its 2018 affordability rate, four information letters regarding the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), and its draft Forms 1094 and The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) increased ...
August 15, 2017
What You Need to Know about Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts
A dependent care flexible spending account (DCFSA) is a pre-tax benefit account used to pay for eligible dependent care services. The IRS determines which expenses are eligible for reimbursement and these expenses are defined by Internal Revenue Code §129 and the employer’s plan. Eligible ...
August 15, 2017
ERISA’s “Church Plan” Exception
The Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) was signed in 1974. The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) is the agency responsible for administering and enforcing this law. For many years, most of ERISA’s requirements applied to pension plans. However, in recent years that has changed, ...
August 10, 2017
Compliance Recap | July 2017
July was a relatively quiet month in the employee benefits world, despite the U.S. Senate’s release of two bills in its attempt to repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA). First, the U.S. Senate revised its Better Care Reconciliation Act and declined to vote on its ...
July 25, 2017
Coffee is the Nectar of the Gods
Ah, coffee, is there any better beverage? Speaking as a lover of coffee, but not a coffee snob, I always look forward to that first-morning cup. As I savor its aroma – while the medium-bodied roast charms my taste buds – with each sip I am grateful to whoever created this libation. I would ...
July 20, 2017
The Perk of Pets
Does your company offer healthcare? Check. Does it offer a 401(k) program? Check. How about paid time off and tuition reimbursement? Check and check. Now, does it offer pet-friendly perks? Huh? Some of the latest and greatest company benefits have been the recognition that pets of employees are ...
